I remember when the buzz was about President Ronald Reagan and the Pope (John Paul II), about their conspiring to bring down the Soviet system. And yes, while there may have been no conspiracy there clearly were forms of cooperation, despite deep differences.

Yes, I’m supporting Bernie, but that’s not the point here. It’s rather that some old men, and probably many more old women, do indeed “dream dreams” that are very important and find ways to move their dreams towards reality.

Here’s what we’ve learned: Francis did not invite Bernie to speak at a conference about Catholic social thought. Instead, a fairly independent Cardinal did. (So much for images of a monolithic Vatican.)

At the conference, Sanders underlined his strong agreements with Catholic teaching (and with Francis) about poverty, economic inequality and the crisis of our global economic system. Then he and his family met briefly in private with Francis as the Pope was on his way out to Greece and Sanders was returning to the New York campaign dogfight.

The best line about the whole thing came from Francis’ press conference on the short flight back to Rome. Asked whether the “meeting” with Sanders could be construed as a political endorsement, Francis suggested that anyone viewing a polite handshake in those terms needed to see a psychiatrist. (His unscripted humor is a continual grace.) Sanders, too, emphasized the non-political character of the brief meeting in a lobby, saying it was simply an honor to meet one of the world’s great leaders.

So what about old men dreaming dreams?

Sanders clearly has big dreams. He undoubtedly saw his quick trip to Rome as a way to emphasize the similarity between his agenda and the Pope’s — and thus as a way to reach out to Catholic voters and others attracted to Francis.

But while his dreams are now focused on the White House, they did not start there. They have been fundamental to his political life. He’d love to win, although he probably won’t. Yet his surprising success has brought national and international attention to his deep concern for economic justice and his fierce critique of those who most benefit from present financial-political structures.

Francis, too, has big dreams that have led him since his youth — dreams of a different Church serving the needs of an impoverished world. Who knows whether he ever dreamed of being Pope, but he clearly committed his life from early days as a Jesuit and throughout his work as a bishop — now as Bishop of bishops — to the poor and marginalized throughout Latin America and globally. Nor has he hesitated to criticize hard-hearted Christians (bishops especially) who remain effectively indifferent. And to criticize, as when he spoke to Congress, the corruption of greed and money.

The contrasts between the two old men (no disrespect, I’m one) are clear on many fronts: an irascible personality and a far gentler one; a prophetic politician and a politically astute pastor; an outsider in one system and an insider to a quite different one; a sharp critical thinker and a theologically deep thinker; an agnostic Jew and a deeply rooted Catholic.

The similarities are also clear. Both are men of the long haul, both strong-willed and determined, both children of mid-century turmoil still battling (though, again, in different ways) the cultural and political warfare that has accompanied us since.

Or at least these are some of the ways I see them.

And yet the overlapping dreams which unite them are very important. They are expressions of the spirit. Yes, the spirit of reform moving through our times, a spirit manifest especially in the young. Yet also — or so I believe, though Sanders might blanch at the thought — expressions of the Holy Spirit.

Which, of course, does not mean one cannot disagree with them. Or that their every pronouncement and program is right and will be successful. Or that they alone manifest the Spirit in our times. For there are, fortunately, many others who do so, from many creeds and cultures — even from different parties in this country and in my church.

For, as Francis stressed in Laudato Si’, today the earth itself cries for rescue from the madness of prevailing systems, cultural as much as religious, economic and military and political.

Where is your moral compass pointing? What are your social values? Hark will explore faith, morals, ethics and character at the intersection of religion ethics, culture, politics, media, science, education, economics and philosophy. At times this blog will alert readers to breaking news and trends. At times it will attempt to look more deeply into intriguing subjects. Hark means to listen attentively, and we will, as readers talk back to the news.